Captain Marvel #15Review

Captain Marvel #15 is the series' first tie-in with the events of Infinity, and the issue -- penned by series regular Kelly Sue DeConnick alongside Jen Van Meter -- merges Carol's ongoing story within the larger narrative. In the aftermath of her battle with Yon-Rogg in last month's installment, Carol Danvers finds herself with a headache of another kind as damage to her brain stripped her of some of her most important memories. The plot shows a great deal of potential as it explores the ramifications of Captain Marvel's condition, but the execution doesn't quite live up to it.

Riding side-by-side into battle with her teammates highlights the fact that Carol feels nothing towards them. If memories inform who we are and how we respond to people and events, then it makes sense that the loss of them would leave one emotionally and psychologically stunted in some ways. For the most part, DeConnick and Van Meter's approach works. There is a disconnect between what Carol thinks she should feel and what she should actually feel. Unfortunately, the narration falls a bit flat. Part of it is due to the fact that it's written largely in first person past tense which separates Carol's inner monologue from the action occurring on the page (traditionally, it's present tense). It may seem like a minor detail, but the lack of present tense removes a sense of urgency from the book's story.

Visually, there's a lot happening on the page. Penciller Patrick Olliffe and inker Drew Geraci handle the expansive action sequences with a deft hand, while colorist Andy Troy packs a punch with heavily saturated colors. The art team puts in a solid effort, but we're still left craving a consistent aesthetic from a title that suffers from a revolving door of artistic talent.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Captain Marvel [2012] #15

INFINITY TIE-IN! Part 1 of 2, Infinity Event tie-ins, expanding on the capture of Captain Marvel. and Hawkeye!